Tedor Davido

Case details

Tedor Davido was convicted of the murder of 20-year-old Angelina C. Taylor and was sentenced to death on January 3, 2002.

The offence

Davido was accused of beating Angelina Taylor to death while raping her. Angelina Taylor died after receiving massive head injuries and brain hemorrhages consistent with a severe beating. A forensic pathologist testified that Angelina Taylor had ligature and scratch marks on her neck and bruises on every part of her body. Medical evidence indicated that Angelina Taylor was raped. Testimony at trial established that Davido told others that he beat Angie on the morning in question and then had sex with her when she wouldn't respond to him.

Police found Angelina Taylor alone and unconscious on a mattress in a 3rd-floor bedroom in the home she shared with Davido. She was almost nude.

An anonymous phone call led officers to the home after they received a report of "a guy... beating up a girl." When officers arrived, no one answered the door.

Investigation

A forensic pathologist testified that Angelina Taylor died from massive head injuries and brain hemorrhages consistent with a severe beating, and that she had ligature and scratch marks on her neck and bruises on every part of her body. The pathologist also testified that medical evidence indicated Angie Taylor was raped.

Davido’s younger sister testified that the fight between her brother and Angie Taylor was so violent she fled the home and called police, saying "a guy was beating up a girl."

During the events on May 14, 2000, police entered the house through a window. The record stated that medics transported Angelina Taylor to Lancaster General Hospital where she was treated for brain swelling, which ultimately squeezed her brain stem, shutting off her vital functions. Angelina Taylor was declared brain dead 10 hours later and removed from life support on the afternoon of May 14.

Davido allegedly gave incriminating statements to police and to a fellow Lancaster County Prison inmate, confessing to the killing and the rape.

Background

Davido and Angelina C. Taylor were an unmarried couple with a long history of violence. Testimony at a preliminary hearing indicated a long history of violence between the unmarried couple.

During the appeal hearing coverage, Davido’s sister testified that their family lived out of a van at times and often went hungry, and that the 10 children, of which Davido was the oldest, never went to school regularly. She testified that their father beat the children and their mother, and that they would gather together "and we'd pray to God for our father to die." She testified that their grandfather was head of the gypsy clan and that the family traveled around the country, sometimes living out of a van, sometimes in small houses or apartments, sleeping on floors and living on welfare.

The appeal testimony stated that in 1988 the family was living in Las Vegas when their father "went crazy." Their grandfather and the rest of the gypsy clan, she testified, moved to New York City abandoning them and leaving them with their obviously ill father. She testified that believing he was possessed by the devil, he tossed their belongings outside and dug a hole, and ordered her brothers to urinate on family pictures and locks of their hair.

She testified that one day their father ordered them all into a park across the street, forcing them onto their knees to pray for his soul. Holding her infant sister in one arm and a Ninja knife in the other, her father stood over them as he made them pray throughout the night, she said. She testified that finally her mother escaped and called the police. She testified that her father was hospitalized and eventually died. She testified, "Teddy tried to support us," taking over the role as head of the household, "but he was 15, and it was too big of a family."

A lifelong friend of Davido's testified that Davido came to her home on the morning of the murder and told her he had beaten up Angie because he was mad. She testified that Davido told her Angie was "breathing funny" when he left their home. Davido said her eyes were wide open, but that she could not stand up, she testified.

Arrest

In 1997, Davido was arrested by police and FBI agents on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, rape and weapons charges in Ohio.

Prior conviction and parole

The record stated that Davido was convicted of reduced charges of escape and assault from Belmont Correctional Institution in Ohio. Davido was paroled after serving only two years. The record also stated that in 1997 the jury was told Davido was arrested for attempted murder, kidnapping, rape and weapons violations and that he served two years in an Ohio prison on a reduced charge of assault and was paroled in 2000.

Trial

During his trial in 2001, Davido repeatedly refused to be represented by court-appointed attorneys James Gratton and Merrill Spahn or cooperate with them in presenting a legal defense. The jury convicted him and sentenced him to death.

Prosecutors in seeking the death penalty used an argument that Davido had been arrested three years before Taylor's murder for another, unrelated violent crime. The record stated that prosecutors relied on the prior arrest in 1997 for attempted murder, kidnapping, rape and weapons violations.

Sentencing

Davido was sentenced to death on January 3, 2002.

Appeals

Davido appealed his conviction and death sentence. The record stated that death-sentence appeal focused on "gypsy life." An expert, Ann Sutherland, described social and cultural aspects of Davido's childhood to Judge Joseph Madenspacher. Sutherland testified that Davido would have been next in line to lead the several-hundred member clan but was too young at the time to learn the necessary skills. Sutherland testified, "He continues to see himself as a gypsy," and "Even in prison, that's who he is."

The appeal coverage described a scheduled week-long appeal hearing before Judge Joseph Madenspacher. The record stated that defense attorneys were trying to convince Judge Joseph Madenspacher that something in Davido's past or psyche, or the prosecution of his case, should allow their client to escape execution. The defense attorneys listed were Andrew Harris, Matthew Lawry and James Mareno.

Jennifer Anne Buck from the state Attorney General's Office represented the prosecution. Davido sat dry-eyed as his sister wept during her testimony.

The record stated that Davido had repeatedly and unsuccessfully appealed his case in state and federal court.

Outcome

Davido’s conviction and death sentence remained in place at the time of the reported appeal proceedings. He was one of six Lancaster County men on death row awaiting execution.

Timeline

• 1997 — Davido was arrested by police and FBI agents on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, rape and weapons charges in Ohio.
• January 2000 — Davido and his girlfriend, Angelina C. Taylor, and Angie’s 2 year old son returned to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
• May 14, 2000 — Officers responded to an anonymous call reporting "a guy... beating up a girl"; Angelina Taylor was found unconscious and later declared brain dead, then removed from life support on the afternoon of May 14.
• January 3, 2002 — Davido was sentenced to death.
• 2001 — Davido’s trial concluded with conviction and a death sentence.
• June 22, 2009 — A scheduled week-long appeal hearing before Judge Joseph Madenspacher began, with testimony from Davido’s sister.
• June 23, 2009 — Expert Ann Sutherland testified regarding Davido’s childhood and "gypsy life" at the appeal hearing.

Other details

Davido testified that he got scared and exited the house via the roof when he heard the police.

A record stated that medics transported Angelina Taylor to Lancaster General Hospital, where she was treated for brain swelling, which ultimately squeezed her brain stem, shutting off her vital functions.

During the appeal hearing coverage, the record stated that Davido was dressed in a brown state prison jumpsuit.